UX EXPERIENCE DESIGN
How might we help families stay in the loop — effortlessly sharing updates, coordinating plans, and keeping each other close — so the things that matter don't slip through on a busy day?
Client - Alexa Communications, Amazon
My Role - End to end Lead UX Designer, 2024
IMPACT
Simpler, faster, more connected
The widget reduced connection time by 75% (4 steps → 1 tap), drove a 2.4x increase in communication feature discovery within 30 days, and lifted daily active connections on Echo Show by 38% across calling, messaging, and Drop In.
FEATURED, 2024
THE Challenge / PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Staying in touch shouldn’t take effort — but on Alexa, it did.
Customers didn’t know which contacts were even reachable, so everyday moments of connection quietly slipped by
Every interaction started from zero — no memory of whether someone preferred a call, message, or drop-in
The result: a communication feature working against the very instinct — spontaneous connection — it was meant to serve
THE GOAL
Make Alexa understand connection the way people do: instinctively.
Not a feature to configure, but a presence that knows who’s reachable
Learns how each person likes to be reached, so users stop re-deciding the same thing
Turns intent into connection in a single tap
THE SOLUTION / SHIPPED PRODUCT
Made it effortless for customers to reach the people who matter most. The Top Connections widget intelligently surfaces key contacts and lets users call, message, or Drop In with a single tap.
Design Process
MEDIUM SIZE WIDGET EXPLORATIONS
UTILIZING THE SPACE WHILE KEEPING TAP TARGET AREAS SAFE
Concepts
As we expand our communication vision to encompass more channels and contact networks, we envision a future where the Top Connections widget evolves to become an even more integral part of the Alexa experience. The new vision centers around the idea that:
Alexa knows me, my relationships, who I want to communicate with, and the intent of my communication. It helps me achieve this in a better way—faster, more frequently, more confidently, more deeply, more personalized, and with the right tone.
Alexa makes it effortless to connect and coordinate with the world. It assists customers by anticipating their needs, prioritizing their contacts, personalizing interactions, and taking proactive steps to ensure timely and relevant communication.
GOAL OF THE WORKSHOP
I ran a workshop to explore and define how the next iteration of the Top Connections widget could achieve the above new vision. The workshop focused on several key questions:
Initiating Quick Communication: How might the widget make it easier for customers to quickly connect with their Top Connections? What design elements and user flows could reduce friction and make interactions as seamless as possible?
Keeping Users Informed: How can the widget help users stay updated about their loved ones, ensuring they never miss important moments or opportunities to connect?
Enriching Relationships: What features could the widget incorporate to help maintain and strengthen relationships, making interactions more meaningful and personalized?
Deepening Alexa’s Understanding: How can the widget leverage data and user behavior to improve Alexa's understanding of relationships and communication preferences? How might this deeper understanding translate into more timely and relevant information for the user?
Incorporating New Channels: How should the widget be designed to effectively integrate new communication channels like texting and emailing, ensuring they complement the existing voice and video call functionalities?
